Eureka Seven debuted on Japanese televisions earlier this year and Bandai expands the reach of the property with a PS2 game. Eureka and Talho from the animation are aboard to join protagonist Sumner Sturgeon. The game uses the same universe as the animation where a group of mech drivers step into machines known as LFOs or Light Finding Operations.
   The introduction to TR1 kicks off with a rock song and Sumner runs to school in a military uniform. A montage of the other characters in the game follow such as Ruli-1 and Ruli-2 along with a glimpse of an LBO. After starting the game, the following options pop up:

New Game / Start a new adventure
Continue / Resume an adventure in progress
File Load / Load a data file from memory card
Option / Set Sound, Vibration, BGM and SE volumes, and contrast

   Upon starting the game, the camera takes in a view of tiered grassy fields. Sumner steps in front of a black/white colored mech with a cannon mounted on its left shoulder. The camera soon zooms in on a concrete arena where two LBO mechs are grappling. After a while, control is handed over to the player and a short introductory battle ensues between Sumner. <more>

   The intro to UFER shows a monster connected to an array of electrical wires. Electrical pulses surge into it and jolt it to life as it awakens and burns with inner fire... The scene shifts to a cityscape where the monster knocks Ultraman out with a walloping left hook. The intro continues with snippets of Ultramen clowning, monsters glaring, and other uncommon sights.

   The game options that appear once one starts are in Japanese but they are as follows:

1) Ultra Mode - Basically, a story mode of the game where Ultraman battles through all the monsters in the game
2) Battle Mode - Fight against a procession of monsters
3) Versus Mode - Battle the CPU or a 2nd player
4) Tutorial - Learn the ways of Ultraman Fighting
5) Practice Mode - Test your skills in a friendly environment
6) Option - Set difficulty, time limits, vibration toggle, key configs, save/load

   Select Ultra Mode and the first scene shows a helicopter flying in to report on a pock-marked monster called Bulltron which is rolling into the city. To counter the menace, Ultraman leaps into action.  <more>

   To help power hungry portable gamers who have marathon gaming sessions, Sony releases the PSP-280G (2200mAh) battery back which lasts approximately 20% longer than a normal PSP-110G (1800mAh) which is rated at 1800mAh.
   So, if a standard PSP-110G lasts 2 hours on a full charge, the new PSP-280G will extend your gaming time for about 30 more minutes. Useful when you're whipping the table in World Series of Poker or engrossed in a heavy session of Bleach 2. A hardcore player with 2 of these on hand will be able to play for 5 hours. That's enough time for most flights or trips...

   Preorders will ship today. New orders will also ship this afternoon. Please note that pricing is set at US$55.